the titan-第78章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



In　reply　to　this　Mr。　Schryhart　called　in　Mr。　Stackpole　to　corroborate　him。　　Some　of　the　stocks　had　been　positively　identified。　　Stackpole　related　the　full　story；　which　somehow　seemed　to　electrify　the　company；　so　intense　was　the　feeling　against　Cowperwood。

〃It　is　amazing　that　men　should　be　permitted　to　do　things　like　this　and　still　hold　up　their　heads　in　the　business　world；〃　said　one；　Mr。　Vasto；　president　of　the　Third　National；　to　his　neighbor。

〃I　should　think　there　would　be　no　difficulty　in　securing　united　action　in　a　case　of　this　kind；〃　said　Mr。　Lawrence；　president　of　the　Prairie　National；　who　was　very　much　beholden　to　Hand　for　past　and　present　favors。

〃Here　is　a　case；〃　put　in　Schryhart；　who　was　merely　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　explain　further；　〃in　which　an　unexpected　political　situation　develops　an　unexpected　crisis；　and　this　man　uses　it　for　his　personal　aggrandizement　and　to　the　detriment　of　every　other　person。　　The　welfare　of　the　city　is　nothing　to　him。　　The　stability　of　the　very　banks　he　borrows　from　is　nothing。　　He　is　a　pariah；　and　if　this　opportunity　to　show　him　what　we　think　of　him　and　his　methods　is　not　used　we　will　be　doing　less　than　our　duty　to　the　city　and　to　one　another。〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　Mr。　Arneel；　finally；　after　Cowperwood's　different　loans　had　been　carefully　tabulated；　〃don't　you　think　it　would　be　wise　to　send　for　Mr。　Cowperwood　and　state　to　him　directly　the　decision　we　have　reached　and　the　reasons　for　it？　I　presume　all　of　us　would　agree　that　he　should　be　notified。〃

〃I　think　he　should　be　notified；〃　said　Mr。　Merrill；　who　saw　behind　this　smooth　talk　the　iron　club　that　was　being　brandished。

Both　Hand　and　Schryhart　looked　at　each　other　and　Arneel　while　they　politely　waited　for　some　one　else　to　make　a　suggestion。　　When　no　one　ventured；　Hand；　who　was　hoping　this　would　prove　a　ripping　blow　to　Cowperwood；　remarked；　viciously：

〃He　might　as　well　be　toldif　we　can　reach　him。　　It's　sufficient　notice；　in　my　judgment。　　He　might　as　well　understand　that　this　is　the　united　action　of　the　leading　financial　forces　of　the　city。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　added　Mr。　Schryhart。　　〃It　is　time　he　understood；　I　think；　what　the　moneyed　men　of　this　community　think　of　him　and　his　crooked　ways。

A　murmur　of　approval　ran　around　the　room。

〃Very　well；〃　said　Mr。　Arneel。　　〃Anson；　you　know　him　better　than　some　of　the　rest　of　us。　　Perhaps　you　had　better　see　if　you　can　get　him　on　the　telephone　and　ask　him　to　call。　　Tell　him　that　we　are　here　in　executive　session。〃

〃I　think　he　might　take　it　more　seriously　if　you　spoke　to　him；　Timothy；〃　replied　Merrill。

Arneel；　being　always　a　man　of　action；　arose　and　left　the　room；　seeking　a　telephone　which　was　located　in　a　small　workroom　or　office　den　on　the　same　floor；　where　he　could　talk　without　fear　of　being　overheard。

Sitting　in　his　library　on　this　particular　evening；　and　studying　the　details　of　half　a　dozen　art…catalogues　which　had　accumulated　during　the　week；　Cowperwood　was　decidedly　conscious　of　the　probable　collapse　of　American　Match　on　the　morrow。　　Through　his　brokers　and　agents　he　was　well　aware　that　a　conference　was　on　at　this　hour　at　the　house　of　Arneel。　　More　than　once　during　the　day　he　had　seen　bankers　and　brokers　who　were　anxious　about　possible　shrinkage　in　connection　with　various　hypothecated　securities；　and　to…night　his　valet　had　called　him　to　the　'phone　half　a　dozen　times　to　talk　with　Addison；　with　Kaffrath；　with　a　broker　by　the　name　of　Prosser　who　had　succeeded　Laughlin　in　active　control　of　his　private　speculations；　and　also；　be　it　said；　with　several　of　the　banks　whose　presidents　were　at　this　particular　conference。　　If　Cowperwood　was　hated；　mistrusted；　or　feared　by　the　overlords　of　these　institutions；　such　was　by　no　means　the　case　with　the　underlings；　some　of　whom；　through　being　merely　civil；　were　hopeful　of　securing　material　benefits　from　him　at　some　future　time。　　With　a　feeling　of　amused　satisfaction　he　was　meditating　upon　how　heavily　and　neatly　he　had　countered　on　his　enemies。　　Whereas　they　were　speculating　as　to　how　to　offset　their　heavy　losses　on　the　morrow；　he　was　congratulating　himself　on　corresponding　gains。　　When　all　his　deals　should　be　closed　up　he　would　clear　within　the　neighborhood　of　a　million　dollars。　　He　did　not　feel　that　he　had　worked　Messrs。　Hull　and　Stackpole　any　great　injustice。　　They　were　at　their　wit's　end。　　If　he　had　not　seized　this　opportunity　to　undercut　them　Schryhart　or　Arneel　would　have　done　so；　anyhow。

Mingled　with　thoughts　of　a　forthcoming　financial　triumph　were　others　of　Berenice　Fleming。　　There　are　such　things　as　figments　of　the　brain；　even　in　the　heads　of　colossi。　　He　thought　of　Berenice　early　and　late；　he　even　dreamed　of　her。　　He　laughed　at　himself　at　times　for　thus　being　taken　in　the　toils　of　a　mere　girlthe　strands　of　her　ruddy　hairbut　working　in　Chicago　these　days　he　was　always　conscious　of　her；　of　what　she　was　doing；　of　where　she　was　going　in　the　East；　of　how　happy　he　would　be　if　they　were　only　together；　happily　mated。

It　had　so　happened；　unfortunately；　that　in　the　course　of　this　summer's　stay　at　Narragansett　Berenice；　among　other　diversions；　had　assumed　a　certain　interest　in　one　Lieutenant　Lawrence　Braxmar；　U。S。N。；　whom　she　found　loitering　there；　and　who　was　then　connected　with　the　naval　station　at　Portsmouth；　New　Hampshire。　　Cowperwood；　coming　East　at　this　time　for　a　few　days'　stay　in　order　to　catch　another　glimpse　of　his　ideal；　had　been　keenly　disturbed　by　the　sight　of　Braxmar　and　by　what　his　presence　might　signify。　　Up　to　this　time　he　had　not　given　much　thought　to　younger　men　in　connection　with　her。　　Engrossed　in　her　personality；　he　could　think　of　nothing　as　being　able　to　stand　long　between　him　and　the　fulfilment　of　his　dreams。　　Berenice　must　be　his。　　That　radiant　spirit；　enwrapt　in　so　fair　an　outward　seeming；　must　come　to　see　and　rejoice　in　him。　Yet　she　was　so　young　and　airy　in　her　mood　that　he　sometimes　wondered。　　How　was　he　to　draw　near？　What　say　exactly？　What　do？　Berenice　was　in　no　way　hypnotized　by　either　his　wealth　or　fame。　She　was　accustomed　（she　little　knew　to　what　extent　by　his　courtesy）　to　a　world　more　resplendent　in　its　social　security　than　his　own。　Surveying　Braxmar　keenly　upon　their　first　meeting；　Cowperwood　had　liked　his　face　and　intelligence；　had　judged　him　to　be　able；　but　had　wondered　instantly　how　he　could　get　rid　of　him。　　Viewing　Berenice　and　the　Lieutenant　as　they　strolled　off　together　along　a　summery　seaside　veranda；　he　had　been　for　once　lonely；　and　had　sighed。　　These　uncertain　phases　of　affection　could　become　very　trying　at　times。　　He　wished　he　were　young　again；　single。

To…night；　therefore；　this　thought　was　haunting　him　like　a　gloomy　undertone；　when　at　half　past　eleven　the　telephone　rang　once　more；　and　he　heard　a　low；　even　voice　which　said：

〃Mr。　Cowperwood？　This　is　Mr。　Arneel。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃A　number　of　the　principal　financial　men　of　the　city　are　gathered　here　at　my　house　this　evening。　　The　question　of　ways　and　means　of　preventing　a　panic　to…morrow　is　up　for　discussion。　　As　you　probably　know；　Hull　&　Stackpole　are　in　trouble。　　Unless　something　is　done　for　them　tonight　they　will　certainly　fail　to…morrow　for　twenty　million　dollars。　　It　isn't　so　much　their　failure　that　we　are　considering　as　it　is　the　effect　on　stocks　in　general；　and　on　the　banks。　　As　I　understand　it；　a　number　of　your　loans　are　involved。　　The　gentlemen　here　have　suggested　that　I　call　you　up　and　ask　you　to　come　here；　if　you　will；　to　help　us　decide　what　ought　to　be　done。　Something　very　drastic　will　have　to　be　decided　on　before　morning。〃

During　this　speech　Cowperwood's　brain　had　been　reciprocating　like　a　well…oiled　machine。

〃My　loans？〃　he　inquired；　suavely。　　〃What　have　they　to　do　with　the　situation？　I　don't　owe　Hull　&　Stackpole　anything。〃

〃Very　true。　　But　a　number　of　the　banks　are　carrying　securities　for　you。　　The　idea　is　that　a　number　of　these　will　have　to　be　called　the　majority　of　themunless　some　other　way　can　be　devised　to…night。　　We　thought　you　might　possibly　wish　to　come　and　talk　it　over；　and　that　you　might　be　able　to　suggest　some　other　way　out。〃

〃I　see；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　caustically。　　〃The　idea　is　to　sacrifice　me　in　order　to　save　Hull　&　Stackpole。　　Is　that　it？〃

His　eyes；　quite　as　though　Arneel　were　before　him；　emitted　malicious　sparks。

〃Well；　not　precisely　that；〃　replied　Arneel；　conservatively；　〃but　something　will　have　to　be　done。　　Don't　you　think　you　had　better　come　over？〃

〃Very　good。　　I'll　come；〃　was　the　cheerful　reply。　　〃It　isn't　anything　that　can　be　discussed　over　the　'phone；　anyhow。〃

He　hung　up　the　receiver　and　called　for　his　runabout。　　On　the　way　over　he　thanked　the　prevision　which　had　caused　him；　in　anticipation　of　some　such　attack　as　this；　to　set　aside　in　the　safety　vaults　of　the　Chicago　Trust　Company　several　millions　in　low…interest…bearing　government　bonds。　　Now；　if　worst　came　to　worst；　these　could　be　drawn　on　and　hypothecated。　　These　men　should　see　at　last　how　powerful　he　was　and　how　secure。

As　he　entered　the　home　of　Arneel　he　was　a　picturesque　and　truly　representative　figure　of　his　day。　　In　a　light　summer　suit　of　cream　and　gray　twill；　with　a　straw　hat　ornamented　by　a　blue…and…white　band；　and　wearing　yellow　quarter…shoes　of　the　softest　leather；　he　appeared　a　very　model　of　trig；　well…groomed　self…sufficiency。　　As　he　was　ushered　into　the　room　he　gazed　about　him　in　a　brave；　leonine　way。

〃A　fine　night　for　a　conference；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　walking　toward　a　chair　indicated　by　Mr。　Arneel。　　〃I　must　say　I　never　saw　so　many　straw　hats　at　a　funeral　before。　　I　understand　that　my　obsequies　are　contemplated。　　What　can　I　do？〃

He　beamed　in　a　genial；　sufficient　way；　which　in　any　one　else　would　have　brought　a　smile　to　the　faces　of　the　company。　　In　him　it　was　an　implication　of　basic　power　which　secretly　enraged　and　envenomed　nearly　all　those　present。　　They　merely　stirred　in　a　nervous　and　wholly　antagonistic　way。　　A　number　of　those　who　knew　him　personally　noddedMerrill；　Lawrence；　Simms；　but　there　was　no　friendly　light　in　their　eyes。

〃Well；　gentlemen？〃　he　inquired；　after　a　moment　or　two　of　ominous　silence；　observing　Hand's　averted　face　and　Schryhart's　eyes；　which　were　lifted　ceilingward。

〃Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　began　Mr。　Arneel；　quietly；　in　no　way　disturbed　by　Cowperwood's　jaunty　air；　〃as　I　told　you　over　the　'phone；　this　meeting　is　called　to　avert；　if　possible；　what　is　likely　to　be　a　very　serious　panic　in　the　morning。　　Hull　&　Stackpole　are　on　the　verge　of　failure。　　The　outstanding　loans　are　considerablein　the　neighborhood　of　seven　or　eight　million　here　in　Chicago。　　On　the　other　hand；　there　are　assets　in　the　shape　of　American　Match　stocks　and　other　properties　sufficient　to　carry　them　for　a　while　longer　if　the　banks　can　only　continue　their　loans。　　As　you　know；　we　are　all　facing　a　falling　market；　and　the　banks　are　short　of　ready　money。　　Something　has　to　be　done。　　We　have　canvassed　the　situation　here　to…night　as　thoroughly　as　possible；　and　the　general　conclusion　is　that　your　loans　are　among　the　most　available　assets　which　can　be　reached　quickly。　　Mr。　Schryhart；　Mr。　Merrill；　Mr。　Hand；　and　myself　have　done　all　we　can　thus　far　to　avert　a　calamity；　but　we　find　that　some　one　with　whom　Hull　&　Stackpole　have　been　hypothecating　stocks　has　been　feeding　them　out　in　order　to　break　the　market。　　We　shall　know　how　to　avoid　that　in　the　future〃　（